The third of four batches of listener and guest songs for our songwriting challenge 2024 to write a holiday song. Gerben Westerveld shared his song Christmas Love. Download the lyrics to follow along. Writing a nice clear chorus Maintaining focus on your song being a love song Does your song need another verse or bridge? John White ……

The second of four batches of listener and guest songs for our songwriting challenge 2024 to write a holiday song. Melanie Peterson shared her song All Roads Lead to Christmas. Download the lyrics to follow along. using conventional holiday images in fresh new ways writing melodies that are sing-song and nursery rhyme-like writing with an economic …

Our first batch of listener songs for our songwriting challenge 2024 to write a holiday song. Victor Hathaway shared his song Keeping Christmas. Download the lyrics to follow along. Pulling off a melancholy song on the ukulele Phil was reminded of the songwriter Moondog Changing the lyric and message a bit in your final chorus Steve ……

Jimmy Dunne Says is a collection of author and songwriter Jimmy Dunne’s best bite-sized stories that Americans everywhere are spreading and sharing. These stories are heartfelt, smart, and thought-provoking, and some will have you absolutely belly-laughing. Some stories about navigating everyday life today, some that take you right back to your chi…

Hailing from the quiet, wooded, mountain towns of New England, Nathan Jacques is a singer/songwriter now based in Los Angeles, CA. Contrary to his geographical roots, Nathan paints deeply woven narrative stories in cinematic soundscapes that are undeniably and irresistibly Western. ​Starting with his 2021 debut album, ‘Loud Mind’, Nathan has been b…

Nancy Blue has about 50 songs completed, many of which are similar to “jazz standards”. One person described her song “Darn Good Things” as like a classic Holiday song (not lyrics but melody and chords). But now it’s a new time – she began the jazz focus in 2012, now she’s on to making an …

For our first host response to our Songwriting Challenge 2024 to write a holiday song, Neel shared the process behind his song Forest for the Trees. Download the lyric/chord sheet to follow along. We talked about: Mystery blobs washing up on Newfoundland shores likely man-made, says scientist | CBC News Listeners, you still have time ……

Greg Wyard’s new song “Don’t Get Involved” is available on all streaming platforms, beginning September 13th, 2024. Inspired by tense moments we all face in daily life —like a heated confrontation on the subway or an episode of road rage —”Don’t Get Involved” explores the dilemma of staying calm versus reacting. With a backdrop of ……

Amanda Sum is a performer and creator who dances between music and theatre. Her latest EP, does it make me naive if i’ve never been part of something where i’ve meant more to them than they did to me?, was released in June 2024, accompanied by a short film featuring 13 directors, which is due …

Returning recently from Europe, where she performed, and earned her master’s degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain, Canadian Billboard-charting recording artist and alternative Soul singer Avery Raquel has entertained audiences professionally for over a decade. She’s released 4 solo albums and two EPs now to critical accl…

Matthew Isaacs, aka Kromatix_, is a Neo-Soul and R&B singer, songwriter, recording artist, and jazz pianist emanating from Scarborough, Toronto, Canada. Known for his signature style, he blends sublime lyricism with groovy beats, trademark harmonies, and soulful chord progressions that simply compliments his euphonious vocal tones. Sharing his trut…

For this special episodes, we talked about songs with a post-chorus. Our songwriting challenge for 2024 to write a holiday song. Please send us your answers to the challenge by November 18! What is a post-chorus? The Post-Chorus, And It’s Unsung Place In Pop Music – Vinyl Me, Please (vinylmeplease.com) The Power of Post-Choruses | ……

Sherry Jacoby is a Toronto, Canada-based singer/songwriter who exercises her passion for telling personal stories through song. She writes indie pop/folk for the romantic heart, combining the influences of Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, and Gabrielle Alpin. Sherry’s music story began when her mom taught her piano at a young age. Inspired by her…

Canadian Roots/Americana singer-songwriter, Jade Turner, is a multi-award winning artist whose powerful, soaring voice and masterful storytelling captivates listeners with every song. The 23-time Manitoba Country Music Award nominee, is a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation and draws deep inspiration from the cultural tradition of storytelling. …

Mike Enjo is an Australian Singer Songwriter and Producer. He is the founder of the YouTube channel ‘Creative Sauce’ which has over 140,000 subscribers, and endeavours to open up the world of home recording to old and new musicians alike. We talked about: Our songwriting challenge to write a holiday song – and thanks to ……

In this special episode, we talked about songs that feature a declarative chorus. We talked about: Our songwriting challenge to write a holiday song How declarative choruses tend to show up more in rock songs Our blog post on 7 ways to bring variety to your collection of songs Our guest Jordan Paul and his ……

Anne Stott is a singer/songwriter, actor and political rabble rouser who has brought her elastic and enigmatic sound and edgy compassion to audiences along the Eastern Seaboard and beyond for over two decades. Her second album, LOVE NEVER DIES, peaked at #19 on the Relix Magazine radio chart. Water to Blood is a song Anne ……

Kari Zalik is the founder of Bad Parade, a full-service music publicity company specializing in creating custom campaigns for musical artists to secure maximum exposure for their work across television, print, radio, and digital media outlets. We talked about: misconceptions about what services a publicist does or does not provide publicists needs …

Sarah Tolle is a singer-songwriter and actress based in Vancouver, BC. Her musical style is marked by a genre-bending, freewheeling, eclectic spirit. Her songs emanate a sense of wildness grounded in a timeless, almost ancient sound. They’re inspired by themes of freedom and peace, in compositions that blend house beats, sweeping orchestras, Celtic…

Despite being known across the globe as an R&B and Soul-Pop focused artist, Ian Janes was a Semi-Finalist on SiriusXM’s Top of The Country contest, and wrote a Blues song on Matt Andersen’s 2023 JUNO nominated Blues album, “Matt Andersen and the Big Bottle of Joy”. His music has been streamed millions of times across ……

Monet & Christian are an alternative/folk duo hailing from Toronto and Saint John, New Brunswick. Their music focuses on tight harmonies and thoughtful lyrics about finding your place in the world, and draws influences from as many different sources as possible, from Simon and Garfunkel, to Florence + The Machine, to Led Zeppelin, to even ……

Greg Wyard is a popular Toronto performer known for his live solo and band performances in and around the Toronto area. He is also an accomplished singer/songwriter who has recently emerged from a few years of dormancy on that front, releasing new songs such as Suddenly Everything’s All Right and Guns and Money, which have ……

Folk-Roots artist Tania Joy is the Co-founder, Executive Director/Artistic Director of Springtide Music Festival, a non-profit organization led by a volunteer team of business leaders and local musicians which draws over 70 acts to various venues from breweries and bistros to bookstores and clothing shops in historic downtown Uxbridge, northeast of…

We’re excited to launch our songwriting challenge for 2024 to write an original holiday song. Helping with the launch, singer-songwriter Melanie Peterson picks two of her favourite holiday songs and talks about what makes them great. Check out our dedicated page for the songwriting challenge to write a holiday song, including all our past holiday-t…

Established in Edmonton’s inner city neighbourhood of McCauley, AV & The Inner City is a recently formed, all-female Soul/Roots vocal group, originating from the weekly collaborative porch concerts put on during the pandemic by multi-award winning local artist AV (Ann Vriend). In a testament to their incredible talent, the diverse group of Edmonton…

Frank Horvat is an award-winning and critically acclaimed composer and pianist. He maintains an active schedule of recording projects and performances of his own compositions. His portfolio of works consists of chamber, pop/rock, electronic, musical theatre, film, and large ensemble pieces. His music has been premiered on four continents and featur…

Born and raised in Toronto, Victoria Staff was always an “anxious child”. The string that connected much of her young life was using music to communicate with family, friends, teachers, and even therapists. Over time, this coping mechanism developed into a passion for music that would lead to her career as an indie-pop artist. Staff ……

16-year-old budding pop sensation Sydney is ready to introduce herself to the world with electric feel-good anthem “Picture Perfect.” Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, the artist is known for a unique sound that adeptly blends the soaring synths of Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers with Korean pop music, bridging the sonic gap between Taylor Swift and M…

Michael Bones is a classically trained violinist, composer, performer and songwriter who experiments with looping and pedal effects to create a full band experience as a solo artist. Micheal has released 3 EPs, BONES 2020, BLACKJACK 2021, and MAN IN THE MOON 2022-2023, which are available on all streaming platforms. He’s also released several recor…

Maddy Little is a Canadian Indie Artist, based out of Toronto, Canada. Maddy has spent her formative years immersed in indie-folk band We Wander. Maddy has been deeply influenced in her songwriting by artists like City and Colour, Dizzy, Phoebe Bridgers, who have inspired her to turn to storytelling through music. Currently working on her ……

A captivating musical journey of empowerment, self-determination, and the pursuit of lifelong dreams, Country artist Amanda Keeles unveils her invigorating debut album, “Can’t Stop Me Now!“. Her rich, ribbon-like vocals come straight from her soul, sharing deeply personal narratives drawn from a songbook overflowing with a lifetime of compositions.…

Nelson Little is a celebrated storyteller from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, who brought home his third award from the Manitoba Country Music Awards this winter for “Best Roots Artist”, and has also received an Aboriginal People’s Choice Award. Little has opened for Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Major, The Sheepdogs, and Fred…

Over the last few years, Alex Bird & Ewen Farncombe have become two of the biggest names on the Canadian Jazz scene. With praise from around the globe, this talented team has created timeless and heartfelt originals for a modern audience. They have produced something that is completely unique; three original albums in three years. ……

Built on emotion-stirring storytelling and unmistakable vocal harmonies accompanied by a century-old instrument, Burnstick, a JUNO nominated husband and wife Folk duo, are intent on creating affecting music that inspires listeners to feel. The Manitoba-based duo features Nadia and Jason Burnstick, esteemed independent artists who united over a deca…

Singer-songwriter, producer, and Song Studio maverick Allister Bradley joined us to talk us through song registrations (for Canadians). We talked about: Billy Joel’s new song and AI-driven video Turn the Lights Back On Collective Societies | Copyright Board of Canada (cb-cda.gc.ca) lists ALL the organizations responsible for collecting and distribu…

Flavia Abadía is an international DJ, MC, singer, and songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. Colombian and French-Canadian, born in France, Flavia seamlessly blends an array of musical genres, ranging from Latin and Moombahton to Hip Hop, House, Vogue, and other global elements. With an impressive track record, Flavia’s original music has garnered ov…

This week we were joined again by Chad Shank to talk about two of his favourite songs and why they should be studied. Chad Shank is a Songwriter, Music Producer, and Songwriting Teacher. Chad is the founder of At-Home Songwriting, a YouTube Channel and Songwriting Education Community. He is also a Lyric Instructor for Berklee ……

Darrin James is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, and producer known for his distinctive gravelly voice, thoughtful lyrics, and soulful musicianship. His eclectic production style encompasses a growing range of influences, often fusing gritty, bluesy guitar playing with rustic, acoustic elements of Americana and soul-style Hammond organ an…

Sunny Zaman is a musician whose main passion is songwriting. He is also a singer and guitar and bass player who occasionally dabbles with keyboards and synths. He wrote his first song at the age of 14 and continues to follow his passion many decades later. While he plays mostly rock and pop, he has ……

Fresh off the release of her sophomore album, “Roses”, Toronto R&B/Neo-Soul artist, Aphrose, is receiving exciting critical acclaim at home and across the globe. Black Entertainment Television premiered Aphrose’s video for “Roses” to millions of people across their televised channel, socials, and website. She also appeared nationally on The Morning…

In this episode, we will also explore the dos and don'ts of collaborative songwriting, including tips for effective communication, handling creative differences, and managing expectations. We will also discuss resources such as BandLab, SongCraft.io and Mixed In Key Satellite. So, whether you're a seasoned songwriter looking to expand your creative…

Hey everyone! I hope 2022 is not hitting you all too hard. Today, we will talk about how important it is to have a clear image of where your song is going in your head and discuss ways to clarify your story and why it is so powerful to define every possible detail of your story and the universe your song is happening in. What are your experiences w…

Hello and welcome back again to an all new season of Songwriting Tips & Tricks, In this episode we are talking about methods of taking notes of songs that pop up in our mind and are so easily forgotten. Hang in there, because there is so much potential to help you write wonderful songs that would otherwise slip your mind. If you have any feedback, …

Hi everyone, Did you ever ask yourself, what it really means to be a songwriter? Is it just the lyrics, is it the music, is there more to it? What describes a songwriter best? Well, this episode is focused on what parts come together to form the term songwriter. We discuss the mindset you should have when turning to these parts and to steadily grow…

Hey there, Would you say that you're writing is aspiringly good or that it is still missing something extra to it? Something to make it stand out? Would you say that your choice of words is too basic, or to dull or are you already aware of how to find intriguing new words to use in your songs? In any of such cases, this podcast is dedicated to song…

Stuck in the depths of my caves it seems. Well, Corona shut down most social and everyday life in Germany and surely has an effect on your country as well. I hope you are in good health and use the time wisely. In this episode we will be talking about useful strategies in your Home Office as a songwriter and how to collaborate with others remotely.…

This episode is all about writing songs as if you were a programming genius. No not you Sheldon, although I'd love to see him writing a song and listening to this show. Writing lyrics is just like writing code in some way and we will talk about how writing lyrics could benefit from the mindset of a coder. Don't worry, there is no nerd-talk beside t…

It is all about perspective in this episode. We are going to discuss the different narration types and through whose eyes the audience is going to experience your stories. Is there any way to tell a story different than all the other writers do? What ways are there to make your stories stand out compared to other writers? What perspective could sui…

No idea how to write better lyrics that get closer to the core, to a deeper level and explain things so honest and in a nutshell that everyone is like - wow? Not yet? Well then you should try this emergency songwriting method we discuss in this episode. It helps you finding the right words faster and explain situations brutally honest and real. If …

Stories shape the way we see the world from the day we are born. But how do we tell a story in a song and what words are we going to use? How are we going to find a coherent thread for the listener to follow along? These are the questions we are going to discuss and discover today and how you can find the right words for your audience to understand…